Google Meet Enhancements: Stereo Audio and eCDN Validation

Google Workspace continues to evolve, bringing forward updates aimed at refining the user experience and providing administrators with more robust management tools. This post focuses on two recent enhancements to Google Meet: the introduction of stereo sound sharing and a powerful new Silent Test Mode for Enterprise Content Delivery Network (eCDN) configurations. These features are set to offer a more immersive meeting environment and simplify network validation processes for administrators.

Share Stereo Sound in Google Meet

Meeting participants frequently share content that includes audio, from pre-meeting music to instructional videos. Previously, this audio was transmitted in mono, regardless of its original format. Google Meet now supports sharing stereo sound, allowing for a richer and more natural listening experience for all attendees.

This update means that if the content being presented originally features separate left and right audio channels, that stereo fidelity will be preserved when shared within a Meet call. This subtle yet significant improvement enhances the quality of sound delivery, making multimedia content more engaging and true to its source.

From an administrative perspective, this feature is enabled by default and requires no direct intervention. Users operating Google Meet via a web browser will be able to transmit stereo audio, while participants using Chrome or Firefox browsers can receive it. It’s an enhancement designed to seamlessly elevate the everyday meeting experience without additional configuration from your side.

Availability: This feature is currently rolling out to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts.

Accelerate eCDN Configuration Validation with Silent Test Mode

For organisations that rely on Google Meet live streams, optimising bandwidth is crucial. Google Meet’s eCDN solution plays a vital role by using peer-assisted media delivery, which can reduce original bandwidth consumption by a significant margin. To maximise these savings, administrators often need to fine-tune peering policies and custom rules to match their specific network infrastructure. This process can be complex and traditionally carries the risk of impacting live viewer experiences during testing.

Introducing Silent Test Mode, a new capability designed to address this challenge. This innovative mode enables administrators to conduct large-scale eCDN tests across their entire network, encompassing real users and devices, all while mitigating any risk to the live streaming experience.

When Silent Test Mode is activated, Meet eCDN operates in a full simulation. Live stream clients collect and report comprehensive real-world data and statistics on how peer-based delivery would perform. Crucially, during this simulation, viewers continue to receive media directly from Google’s servers, ensuring an uninterrupted and high-quality viewing experience. This unique approach allows administrators to quickly and confidently validate various configuration options, experimenting with policies and rules without fear of disruption.

Beyond live stream simulation, Silent Test Mode offers advanced operations. Administrators can schedule workload scripts on users’ devices to run in the background. This allows for large-scale network tests to be performed as often as needed, even during non-peak hours, without requiring an actual live stream event. This capability empowers administrators to validate iterative network changes much faster and with greater efficiency.

Getting Started for Administrators: Silent Test Mode is initially switched off by default. To utilise this feature, administrators should first ensure Meet eCDN is fully set up. Detailed guidance on enabling and configuring Silent Test Mode is available in the Google Workspace Admin Help documentation.

Availability: This feature is available for Google Workspace editions that support live streams, including Enterprise Standard and Plus, Enterprise Essentials Plus, and Education Plus.

These updates underscore a continued commitment to enhancing both the functional richness of Google Meet and the administrative tools available to manage large-scale deployments effectively. From clearer audio in presentations to risk-free network optimisation, these improvements are designed to foster a more connected and efficient digital workspace.